NetiQ minds the gaps

Start-up software maker NetiQ is readying a set of tools that could fill systems management holes left by Microsoft in its Windows NT operating system and BackOffice applications.

The AppManager Suite of systems and application management tools allows systems administrators to monitor and configure multiple Windows NT servers from a central site. Microsoft bundles its own management tool, called Systems Management Server, with BackOffice. The AppManager Suite complements SMS with an easy-to-use interface, as well as additional tools that allow managers to monitor system-wide server status and automate repetitive tasks.

While other systems management tool makers have been moving into the NT market from the Unix and mainframe worlds, NetiQ officials said their tool is unique since it has been built from scratch to work with NT and BackOffice, and Microsoft technologies such as Object Linking and Embedding (OLE) and Visual Basic.

The toolset is currently in beta testing. The company expects to ship AppManager Suite by the fourth quarter, priced from $1,000 depending upon the number of managed workstations, servers, and applications.